The 12x12 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the letters in the anagram NASTY OBLIQUE:

You can see that the anagram and the hidden word are related; but the 'clue' in the anagram is worthless ahead of time: You have to unscramble it--solve the hidden word puzzle--to see the relation. That's how I planned it!

The second puzzle was NOT so easy. I think 16x16 puzzles are pretty hard to begin with; but then throw in the complication of using the solution to the Word Sudoku puzzle to unravel a hidden quote... The 16-letter Word Sudoku was based on the nonsense phrase POULTRY BEGAN SKID...you can see that it has a loose, unusable tie to the hidden quote. Sorry 'bout that!

A new puzzle later this morning. And please visit Sunday for the 12x12 Hidden Word Sudoku Sunday Challenge.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Two puzzles for you today. The first one is the easy one; I'm sure you'll dispatch it with ease. It's a classic 9x9 Word Sudoku puzzle based on the words HALF COURT:

Puzzle: HALF COURTEach row, column and 3x3 square contain the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

And now, the challenge. It comes in two parts: first, a 16x16 (4x4 internal squares) Word Sudoku Puzzle. You'll notice that a number of cells are circled and numbered; they're the letters used in the hidden quote in the second part of the puzzle. As you solve the Word Sudoku puzzle, you'll fill in the circled cells; then copy that letter into the cell in the quote grid with the same number, to (slowly) reveal a famous quote.

You can apply your "world knowledge" to the quote, to help you fill in more letters and then transfer them back into the Sudoku puzzle--but you don't need to do that; the Word Sudoku puzzle is designed to be solved independently of the hidden quote.

AEIOU Sudoku Puzzle: POULTRY BEGAN SKIDEach row, column and 4x4 square contains the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

Letters in the hidden word or phrase are circled and correspond to numbers in the answer rows

Please let me know what you think of this type of puzzle. I have compiled two whole books of these puzzles, aptly titled AEIOU SUDOKU, for the obvious reason.

Solutions tomorrow. And don't forget to visit Sunday for the Sunday Challenge!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Two puzzles for you this morning. First, the usual, a classic 9x9 Word Sudoku puzzle based on the word CUSTOMIZE:

Puzzle: CUSTOMIZEEach row, column and 3x3 square contain the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

And for the fun of it, here's an extra challenge, a 9x9 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle with anagram PET CRANKS; the hidden word or phrase is revealed down the diagonal--which, don't forget, gives you more information, since the one diagonal must also follow the rule of using each letter in the word or phrase exactly once.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Each row, column and 3x3 square contain the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

Solution tomorrow morning. Also tomorrow, TWO puzzles coming your way. And Thursday this week, I'll provide you a 16x16 Word Sudoku puzzle that in turn supplies the letters to fill in a hidden quote...

The tougher one was a 10x10 Hidden Word Sudoku with 2x5 internal rectangles--you have to think a bit differently than you do with 3x3 internal squares! But it wasn't too tough, was it? Or was it easier? Please let me know. The anagram was CABIN LOUSE:

Again, the anagram provided a clue (but not a helpful one) to the hidden word.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Puzzle: TOWEL RACKEach row, column and 3x3 square contain the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

And here's your real challenge today: a 10x10 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle, using 2x5 internal rectangles. Remember that the rule expands: Each row, column, 2x5 rectangle and the one diagonal contains the letters in the anagram CABIN LOUSE exactly once; the hidden word or phrase is revealed down the diagonal as you fill in the grid.

Puzzle: CABIN LOUSEEach row, column and 2x5 rectangle contains the letters in the word or phrase exactly onceThe hidden word or phrase is spelled down the diagonal

Solutions tomorrow. And we're close to the weekend; plan to visit Sunday for the 12x12 Hidden Word Sudoku Sunday Challenge!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Today's classic 9x9 Word Sudoku puzzle is based on the words UNHEARD OF:

Puzzle: UNHEARD OFEach row, column and 3x3 square contain the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

Solution tomorrow. And also tomorrow, another challenge: a 10x10 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle, with 2x5 internal rectangles. I *think* it's easier than the 14x14 I threw at you yesterday! But, then again, you can always tell me...

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Here's the usual: a classic 9x9 Word Sudoku puzzle based on the word SINGAPORE:

Puzzle: SINGAPORE

Each row, column and 3x3 square contain the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

And here's your challenge: a 14x14 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle. Using the letters in the anagram DOUBLE ARM SIXTY, and remembering the rule that each row, column, 2x7 rectangle and the one diagonal contain the letters in the word or phrase exactly once, fill in the grid. Also, remember our previous discussion on how a pair of columns and two stacked rectangles interact when the rectangles are two columns wide.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Today's first puzzle is a simple, classic Word Sudoku puzzle based on the word WAVEFORMS.

Puzzle: WAVEFORMS

Each row, column and 3x3 square contain the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

Your second puzzle is actually also simple, but it's not usual: It's an 8x8 grid, with internal 2x4 rectangles instead of the usual 3x3 squares. And it uses an 8-letter word or phrase; the letters form the anagram I USE MOAN. As you solve the puzzle, the actual hidden word or phrase is spelled down the diagonal.

Puzzle: I USE MOANEach row, column and 2x4 rectangle contains the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

The hidden word or phrase is spelled down the diagonal

Take a close look at the puzzle and consider the relationship between each pair of stacked rectangles and the pair of columns that cover the two rectangles in the grid. The rule says that each rectangle and each column contains each letter exactly once. That means, in 2xX puzzles,

the set of letters used in the left column of the upper rectangle must be the same set used in the right column of the lower rectangle, and

the set of letters used in the right column of the upper rectangle must be the same set used in the left column of the lower rectangle